[August 24th. Because you needed time to recuperate, you didn't visit Watatsumi Island much during this period. Most of the time, you stayed active at the company while maintaining the identity of Kamisato Ayato.]
[Kamisato Ayaka was naturally very happy about this. It seemed as if you had returned to your youth — eating together, practicing swordsmanship together, shopping together. The only difference was that you would 'spar' until late into the night every evening…]
[Kamisato Ayaka seemed eager to bear your child, but for some reason, even after sowing diligently every night, she showed no signs of pregnancy.]
[Moreover, although your injuries were gradually healing, you noticed a change in your personality — you had become a little irritable, a little extreme. However, in front of Ayaka, you always managed to suppress your emotions and still appeared as the perfect brother.]
"Has my personality really changed?" Yilan mused, resting his chin in his hand as he stared at the simulator screen. "Could it be because of the forced fusion of three elements earlier?"
For those like him, who did not have a Vision, the excessive use of elemental power seemed to have a definite impact on the spirit.
In the game's plot, the Fatui Harbinger known as La Signora — Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter from Mondstadt — had once been a girl who loved to sing, who sang beautifully, and who had been an outstanding student, having studied abroad at the Sumeru Akademiya.
Such a person, by any measure, should have been intelligent, gentle, and kind.
But after joining the Fatui, she became the cruel, arrogant woman known to the world.
Of course, the death of her lover, Rostam, was one reason for her change — but the excessive use of elemental power, especially during the catastrophe against the dark beasts, likely contributed to her distortion.
In reality, however, Yilan didn't have to worry about these issues. His soul, spirit, and body were all extremely strong, enough to withstand the strain of elemental power.
"I wonder what effect this change will have on the subsequent plot," Yilan thought worriedly.
[You originally thought that this period of recuperation would pass uneventfully. But one night, while you and Kamisato Ayaka were playing chess, an uninvited guest arrived.]
[He was heavily disguised, but when you caught sight of his furry ears poking out, you immediately guessed his identity.]
[Sure enough, when he removed his cloak, he turned out to be none other than General Gorou, the most trusted confidant of Sangonomiya Kokomi.]
[The bait had finally taken the bait — a meaningful smile crossed your lips.]
[In fact, ever since you first arrived on Watatsumi Island and deliberately stirred up conflict between the radicals and the conservatives, you had predicted that Kokomi would eventually seek external help. Across all of Inazuma, no force was more suited to "lawful good" support than the Shogunate's Tenryou Commission.]
[Gorou seemed a little wary — he sniffed the air in your direction; his nose was extremely sensitive. Fortunately for you, he detected nothing unusual.]
[This was expected, as when you had operated under your true identity, Yilan, you had deliberately carried a fake Thunder-element Vision and used Electro elements. Now, acting as Kamisato Ayato, you carried a Hydro Vision.]
[Under these circumstances, Gorou naturally had no way of connecting you to the official from Watatsumi Island.]
[Gorou asked for support. Although Watatsumi Island had little to offer, the idea of 'shared goals' was enough for Kokomi to seek an alliance. Ayaka, too kind-hearted to refuse them, readily agreed.]
[As the good brother who adored his sister, you 'reluctantly' agreed to this alliance, despite it being slightly unfavorable to you.]
[In the agreement, Kokomi hoped you would provide large amounts of food and fodder to Watatsumi Island — supplies she needed to have the confidence to negotiate.]
["What an innocent girl," you thought.]
[Holding Ayaka's hand, you enthusiastically escorted Gorou out the door — all the while, a hidden confidant you had planted secretly snapped a photo using a Kamera.]
[By September, at the age of 24, you returned to Watatsumi Island and placed that photo before Sangonomiya Kokomi.]
[In the photo, Gorou — her loyal general — was seen having a seemingly cordial conversation with a key figure from the enemy Shogunate.]
[You understood clearly: the alliance between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate could never be made public.]
[They were currently at war. To ally with a Shogunate official — even indirectly — was tantamount to betrayal.]
[Moreover, the main target of this alliance was to deal with the radical faction you controlled… Starting infighting during wartime — if exposed — would not only bring severe punishment to Gorou, but also completely shatter the conservatives' reputation.]
[Checkmate. You had completely defeated Watatsumi's conservatives — it was time to reap the rewards.]
["Marry me, Lady Kokomi."]
[You leaned close, heart against the wall, and whispered beside her delicate ear: "After all, you wouldn't want Gorou to become a sinner to the people, would you?"]
***
The Death of Kamisato
"Ah, this…" Looking at the words appearing on the simulator, Yilan didn't know what to say for a moment.
Before this, he had done many evil things, but those were necessary for the sake of the plan. To borrow a classic saying…
This was a necessary sacrifice.
But this time was different.
Taking the photo of Gorou's secret deal with the Tenryou Commission had been one of his plans from the beginning. The main purpose was to use it to blackmail Kokomi, seize the supreme power over all of Watatsumi Island in one move, and completely bring Watatsumi Island under his control.
But forcing Kokomi to marry him had never been part of the original plan. After all, a forced melon is not sweet. Moreover, he merely needed Kokomi to submit to him; marriage wasn't necessary.
Of course, if Kokomi did truly marry him, it would greatly benefit the overall plan.
After all, Kokomi was the "Divine Priestess" of Watatsumi Island. She was not only the supreme ruler of the island but also held immense prestige among the people.
"Completely putting interests first…?" Yilan shook his head slightly. It seemed that the forced fusion of three elements had indeed left a profound impact on him.
Now, within the simulator, besides the instinct to complete the simulation tasks, perhaps only Kamisato Ayaka could still bring out his softer side.
[Faced with your forced marriage proposal, Kokomi adopted a delaying tactic. She did not explicitly reject you but instead handed over supreme authority over Watatsumi Island to you, stating that if you governed Watatsumi Island properly in the future, she would consider a marriage contract with you.]
"How should I put it? She feels a bit like those 'goddesses' in real life," Yilan commented in his mind. "When facing a suitor's pursuit, she doesn't reject him outright but keeps him hanging on hope, treating him as a backup."
But she certainly didn't intend to treat Yilan as a backup. She was merely buying herself time.
"This is the best choice she could make for now. After all, she is still the 'Divine Priestess' of Watatsumi Island. Even if she temporarily hands over her authority, as long as she raises her arms at a critical moment and calls upon the people, she can reclaim power."
"So instead of confronting my strong self head-on, it's smarter to temporarily retreat and make preparations elsewhere."
"She's quick-witted… but sadly, she still doesn't know my true goal."
[You agreed to Kokomi's request to postpone the engagement, but at the same time, you made a demand—to conceal the transaction between you two. You would secretly control Watatsumi Island, while Kokomi would continue to appear as the leader in public.]
[Kokomi couldn't fully understand your intentions at the moment, but she temporarily agreed.]
[At the age of 24, in October, Kokomi became your puppet ruler. You now secretly controlled Watatsumi Island, though only you, Kokomi, and the top radical member Yilan knew about this arrangement. Lately, Yilan had been frequently appearing close to Lady Kokomi, working together on official matters.]
[Outsiders believed this signaled reconciliation between the radicals and conservatives on Watatsumi Island and that Yilan was now assisting Kokomi. In reality, it was the opposite.]
[You were the one handling the island's true governance, while Kokomi spent her time slacking off, reading light novels, and occasionally helping with auxiliary matters.]
[Of course, Kokomi wasn't just slacking. She was secretly making real preparations.]
[She believed that once you gained full control, you would ruthlessly suppress the conservatives, expand the war against the Shogunate, deplete the island's forces, and exploit the people—causing great harm to Watatsumi Island. To prevent such a disaster, she quietly made preparations.]
[But it was completely useless.]
[You did not suppress the conservatives at all. You did not remove any conservative leaders from important posts. While you expanded the war against the Shogunate, you mainly used the radicals as your front-line forces. Meanwhile, you governed civilian life extremely well. Under your leadership, the people of Watatsumi Island became prosperous and healthy.]
[Kokomi, with deep sadness, realized that Watatsumi Island under your rule was far more prosperous and powerful than it had been under her own governance.]
[However, because Kokomi remained the nominal leader, all these achievements were attributed to her. The name of Sangonomiya Kokomi was praised across the entire island.]
[At the age of 24, in November, Kokomi found herself increasingly unable to understand you—and you, likewise, noticed Kokomi acting strangely.]
[In the beginning, even though Kokomi slacked off, she did so secretly—reading light novels quietly. If caught by you, she would react like a student caught reading novels in class, hurriedly hiding her books.]
[But recently, she had begun slacking off openly, even sitting in front of you reading light novels without hesitation. Once, she even brought snacks to you and casually asked if you wanted some. It was utterly outrageous.]
[This woman seemed to be growing a bit too arrogant lately, so that day, you assigned her a huge pile of work, leaving her utterly miserable.]
[At the age of 24, in December, you had become the supreme ruler of Watatsumi Island and the current head of the Tenryou Commission, one of the Tri-Commissions. You had also infiltrated the other two Commissions. Aside from the Raiden Shogun herself in Tenshukaku, you now wielded the highest real authority in Inazuma.]
[At the same time, the ronin who had been causing trouble throughout Inazuma were either eliminated by you or absorbed into your 'mob'—(the original radicals of Watatsumi Island had almost all been purged by Yilan; the current 'radicals' were basically a rabble).]
[The chess game was reaching its final stage. Now was the time to bring it to an end.]
[On this day, you returned to the Kamisato estate after a long absence. Kamisato Ayaka asked you about your recent activities, subtly hinting that she hoped you could spend more time with her. You simply pulled her into your arms, gently stroked her long cherry-white hair, and whispered:]
["I'm still busy with matters related to the war. But don't worry, Ayaka. The war will soon end, and Inazuma will finally usher in true peace. The elderly will have someone to rely on, the young will be cared for, and everyone will have enough food and clothing… When that time comes, we'll watch the fireworks together."]
[Gently stroking Ayaka's silky hair, you thought to yourself: Recently, the pressure on both sides has been increasing. It's becoming harder and harder to maintain my dual identities. It seems it's finally time to take that step.]
[Thus, three days later, Kamisato Ayato died.]
***
I combined two chapters as the first chapter was quite short. Hope you don't mind.